What is the fastest way to break in a subwoofer?

Start off by playing some music that has heavy bass at a medium or low volume for around two hours every day for a week, or until you've reached 12 hours of playtime. After this, you can start slowly increasing the volume, but not by too much.

What is the best frequency to break in a subwoofer?

The other method we commonly recommend is breaking a subwoofer in free air . This involves having an amplifier hooked to the sub while the sub is not mounted in an enclosure and continually playing a low frequency, such as 30Hz, through the sub for 24hrs.

How to break in a Skar audio subwoofer?

Listen carefully to the sound being produced by the subwoofer(s). Once you have found your ideal level, drop your settings (gain) to half of that . For instance, if you are at half gain, drop it down to a quarter gain. This is your “break in” setting.

What will make your subs hit harder?

Fill the sub box with pillow stuffing ! It works because it slows the air down inside the box as the sound waves travel through the stuffing, in effect tuning it lower.

How long do subwoofers take to break in?

Some speaker manufacturers will recommend a break-in period of around 10 hours. That should be plenty of time to allow your subwoofer to get settled in, if you decide to do this at all.

Do subs need to warm up?

Once the system is up and running with your break-in cut, run it at moderate volume for around 15 minutes or so . This allows everything in the amplifier and driver time to adjust and begin warming up. This is an often-overlooked phase of break-in.

Where do you aim a subwoofer?

SVS recommends starting with corner placement . Corner placement excites all possible room modes, resulting in a denser standing wave pattern in the room. This reduces (but doesn't eliminate) the potential to encounter nulls, which are acoustic cancellation points or 'dead spots' in the room.

What blows a subwoofer?

Subwoofers are most commonly blown by supplying too much signal to the car audio amplifier . Too much signal results in a "clipping" which is when audio signals voltages reach amplifier's power supply voltages. The result is a "clipped" signal and this can damage the amplifier and subwoofer.

What Hz to set a subwoofer?

The most common crossover frequency recommended (and the THX standard) is 80 Hz . On-wall or Compact satellite speakers: 150-200 Hz. Small center, surround, bookshelf: 100-120 Hz. Mid-size center, surround, bookshelf: 80-100 Hz.

What is subwoofer bypass?

Some brands of subwoofers may have a "Bypass" switch, which does the same thing. By doing this, you are avoiding "cascading crossovers," or using two crossovers in a row , which may cause losses or gaps in the bass response.

Do skar subs hit hard?

These are of very good quality compared to the price you pay. The guy I had install these been doing installations for 20+ years and he was very impressed with the construction and sound of these. They hit hard af. I believe they can surpass their advertise 500 RMS but definitely gotta break it in first.

How long does a subwoofer take to break in?

Some speaker manufacturers will recommend a break-in period of around 10 hours. That should be plenty of time to allow your subwoofer to get settled in, if you decide to do this at all.

How do you break in speakers fast?

The best way to break in your speakers is through music , but you should play something with a wide dynamic range and deep bass. It is generally recommended that you play your bass speakers at moderate volumes for at least 20-30 hours long to break in speakers before cranking them up to max volume.

How to Break in a Subwoofer | Car Stereo City San Diego (2024)

Buying a New Subwoofer in San Diego is Just the First Step

You just got an awesome new subwoofer installed into your car - so now what? While most people would want to immediately bump up the bass and start rocking out to their favorite tunes, that may not be the best way for you and your new sub to start off on the right foot. Instead, much like your favorite baseball glove, many experts suggest that you should break in a subwoofer for the best listening experience possible.

Do I need to break in my subwoofer?

The short answer: Yes, you should absolutely break in a new aftermarket subwoofer. If someone tells you that you can turn the bass all the way up right off the bat, you’re getting bad information. Your car and new subwoofer are just getting to know each other. You need to give the various components of the subwoofer time to break in and get settled.

What happens if you don’t break in a sub?

If you choose to forgo breaking your sub in, you risk shortening the lifespan of the subwoofer and lowering the sound quality of the bass. While failing to break in a new sub will not result in any serious damage, it does mean your subwoofer is unable to perform at its very best. For us music junkies, that just isn’t acceptable. We know you’re excited to start enjoying booming bass lines, but trust us - it’s worth your while (and your money) to be patient. As they say, “Be patient, good things take time.”

How do I break in a subwoofer?

Breaking in a subwoofer is actually pretty simple. All you need to do is play some bass happy music at a low or medium volume for around two hours a day. That’s it! The hardest part is the sheer willpower it takes to not crank up the volume. Just remember, low and slow. Pick your favorite metal, rap, or techno track, keep the volume steadily low, and let your subwoofer slowly break in.

How long does it take to break a subwoofer in?

The amount of time it takes to break a subwoofer in depends on the speaker and your car sound system. Some have claimed they can break in a subwoofer in two days, while others say it takes closer to two weeks. You should hear a noticeable improvement in the performance of the bass when the subwoofer is, in fact, broken in. Ultimately, consult with your subwoofer installation expert to see what they suggest.

Why does my subwoofer smell funny?

“What, what?” This may seem like a weird question, but we promise it’s legit. If your subwoofer smells funny, this can be a sign you didn’t break it in properly. The smell could be the coil or glue burning off, but any strange odor coming from a new subwoofer means you need to break the sub in more. You want your sub to be emitting funky sounds, not funky scents.

How do I stop my subwoofer from vibrating?

So now your sub is broken in - time to crank it, right?! Not necessarily. Just because your new subwoofer is broken in doesn’t mean you should turn the bass frequency all the way up. If your subwoofer is properly installed, vibration likely means that you have the base or volume turned too high for the subwoofer to handle. The last thing you want to do is blow out your brand new sub!

Expert subwoofer installation in San Diego at Car Stereo City

Buying a high-quality subwoofer is just one part of the equation. In order to get the best sound possible, you need new subwoofer installation - and in some cases, a custom sub box - that matches your sub’s quality. And, of course, you need to break it in.

At Car Stereo City in San Diego, we offer expert subwoofer installation, as well as advice on how to properly break in your subwoofer. We carry top-of-the line car audio and subwoofer brands, including Hifonics, JL Audio, Alpine, and BOSS Audio Systems, and our knowledgeable experts know how to install every brand in all makes and models of vehicles. If you’re interested in learning more about breaking in a subwoofer or a quote on subwoofer installation, contact us online today or give us a call at (858) 277-1823.